CLC make great Strides in cross-country league match

ON the familiar home ground of Pittville Park in Cheltenham, CLC Striders’ ladies and men’s teams competed in the second fixture of their Midland and Birmingham Cross Country Leagues.

First, it was the turn of the CLC Striders ladies and the team put in a fantastic performance.

Fresh from representing England in Dublin in the Masters international fixture, Liza Bradshaw led the ladies home in seventh place overall and as the first in her Masters category.

Not far behind her were Helen Knight and Kate Telford, finishing in 11th and 12th places, and as second and third in the Masters.

Ladies captain Rachel Vines completed the four scoring places, finishing in 24th overall and fifth in the Masters.

Rachael Cary was 27th, with Amelia Mullins 47th and club debutante Anja Whelan 58th while Sophie Longmore was 68th and Nicola Weager was 98th as the team finished in second place overall, with the Masters winning first place.

In the team standings after the first two races, the ladies are in fourth place overall, knocking on the door of possible promotion.

Next, it was the turn of the men and once again the team were led home by Rob Green, who finished eighth overall and first in his MV40 category.

Next home was Joe Willgoss in 42nd place, just pipping Will Ferguson in 43rd. Tom Burgess finished 62nd, with the fast-improving Alex Johnston in 67th. Sam Baylis completed the A team scorers, in 78th place.

The A team were well backed up by strong performances from the B team finishers – John Comer in 82nd, Rustam Hemsley in 89th, Sheng Peng in 108th, Jamie Hartnoll in 113th, Will Pearce in 114th and Paul Lockyer in 117th .

The Striders also turned out enough (and more) for a C team, too – with Nick Ledwold, Chris Driskell, Paul Northup, Adam Greenwood, Joel Freeland, Matt Ashman, Javid Norat and Eoin Mcquone all running well.

The A team seniors finished seventh and the B team second, and in the masters, the A team were fifth and the B team fourth.

After the first two fixtures, the men are in a strong third position in Division Two and looking good for possible promotion.

CLC men. Back row, from left to right: Matt Ashman, Javid Norat, Ryan O’donnell (not running on the day), Adam Greenwood, Nick Ledwold, Rob Barnett (not running on the day), John Comer, Jamie Hartnoll, Sheng Peng, Rustam Hemsley, Sam Baylis, Will Ferguson, Chris Driskell. Front row, left to right: Paul Lockyer, Will Pearce, Eoin Mcquone, Brendan Ward (head coach), Joel Freeland, Paul Northup

CLC ladies, left to right: Anja Whelan, Liza Bradshaw, Kate Telford, Amelia Mullins, Nicola Weager, Helen Knight, Sophie Longmore, Rachel Vines, Rachael Cary